MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – The federal government shutdown is now affecting Minnesota jobs. The state will lay off 105 health department workers immediately, and thousands of other federal workers in the state will face the same fate.

And Congress appears to be standing still.

According to Congressman Erik Paulsen’s office, he skipped out on his own event Monday to head back to Washington to work on ending the shutdown.

Some disappointed constituents, like Michael Waring of Edina, said they wanted to talk with him about ending the shutdown – even if it means joining with Democrats to do it.

“I think it’s very encouraging that the possibility exists,” Waring said. “And basically one of the things that I came and wanted to say to him in person was have courage. Do the right thing.”

Across town, Democratic Congressman Keith Ellison led a shutdown rally, saying he won’t negotiate with Republicans over the Affordable Care Act or vote for piecemeal government funding.